We see outside of the courthouse in the town of San Antonio, Texas. The walls are decrepit, but give off a legendary feel. A place where you fight, not with fists or kicks, but rather with words. As people gather outside the court house, we see The Masked Gentleman right outside of the court house dressed in a fancy combination of a his standard red mask over his eyes now replaced by a white mask, a white tuxedo with a black button up dress shirt, a white tie and a black and white top hat. In his hand, not his standard cane, but a letter addressed to a Miss Scarlet Williams of San Antonio. Being one to help out the ladies, The Masked Gentleman put his mission to find the man who snuck into his locker room and took out his cell phone at the last pay-per-view event for a new one, this being one of his most risky ventures yet...substituting for jury duty.
The Gent: So, this is the place, is it? How incredibly odd this was the mission Miss Williams sent me on. Not that I would be the one complaining. My opponent was an ex-lawyer, was he not? Worse comes to worse, this will certainly help me understand the mindset of my opponent.
The Gent makes his way to the doorway, handing the bailiff his letter. Initially concerned about the mask, he takes a look at the name on the letter and is just completely baffled.
Bailiff: ...Scarlett Williams?
The Gent: Correct. It's a name of French origin, and as you can tell by my accent, I am French myself.
The Bailiff looks back at the letter and then the Gent before deciding to ask about it.
Bailiff: Isn't Scarlett a girl's name?
The Gent, taking a second to think, contemplates a plan.
The Gent: What? A boy cannot be named Scarlett? Maybe I am just the first male Scarlett you met, but in France, there are many male Scarlettes. Besides, you would not want me to threaten legal action, would you? I should remind you that we are right by a court house.
Baliff: N-No, no. I mean....
The Bailiff gives a sigh, before turning around, leading the way for the Gent to enter the jury booth
Baliff: Right this way, Mr. Williams.
The Masked Gentleman dressed in his formal attire enters the court room. Despite being a tad of a distraction until he is removed from his chair in the back row of the jury, not a comment is made regarding his appearance. We see the defendant, a teenager dressed in a standard black and white tie and dress pants combination. To his left, sits the elderly The Defense, looking over his notes. In contrast, the opposite side of the court room sits the much younger, but big name Prosecutor with a look of complete confidence on his face.
Bailiff: Please rise for the honorable Judge Judge.
From out the door, steps the Judge, a small elderly lady, slowly making her way up from the door to her chair.
Judge: The case of Meadow vs. The Police Department is now in session. Will the defense please make their opening statement?
The younger lawyer stands up confidently from his seat.
Prosecutor: Ladies and Gentleman, I'm sure you know just as well as I do the charges put up against the defendant
The Gent: Objection!
The Judge and Prosecution both turn their heads to look at the defense attorney, who simply shakes his hand points to the jury. The Judge and Prosecution see the fancily dressed Masked Gentleman standing from his seat.
The Gent: I believe that is the cry to get people to pay attention to you in the court room?
The Prosecution simply shrugs.
Prosecutor: While I do appreciate your enthusiasm, you can simply ask the bailiff about issues like this. No need to shout 'Objection'. Leave that to the professionals...
The Prosecution gives a snicker before continuing
Prosecutor: and the clumsy oaf in the defendant's chair, and for the record, the defendant is guilt--I mean, CHARGED of a very serious jaywalking offense.
The Gent: What a hooligan!
The Gent sits down, raising his voice once more just so everyone in the court room can hear him.
The Gent: My apologies, you may carry on, sir.
The Prosecution tries not to laugh at the man in the ridiculous get-up who interrupted the trial as he continues on with his speech.
Prosecutor: The case had happened on July 7th, where the man was walking home from WZCW Redemption. The man had won a VIP pass.
Upon reveal, the eyes of The Masked Gentleman light up, as he once again stands up from his seat.
Prosecutor: Excuse me, but as I said before, if you have anything to say, please tell it to our bailiffs.
The Gent: My apologies, but that is not the reason for the objection. If you do not mind, I would like to question the witness.
The Prosecution looks baffled, wondering to himself if this is some bad practical joke?
Prosecutor: No. Now, moving o--
The defense, seeing an opportunity to at least buy some time, raises up his voice.
Defense: Objection. Hee...hee...hee. The defense sees no problem in respecting the wishes of the crazy man in the mask and top hat in our court room. The defense WAS in fact the one being called up to the stand anyway, and clearly, this man has a connection with this case, therefore he'd be terrific for questioning the witness and getting information out of him.
The prosecution, in shock at the words of the Defense, speaks up.
Prosecutor: ...You can't be serio--
Judge: Sustained. If the defense and the defendant has no problem with it, then I see no reason why he can't be questioned. Afterwards, however, we request that the man in the jury return to his position.
The Prosecution gives a sigh before sitting back down into his seat.
Prosecutor: ...Everyone keeps interrupting me today and I hate it. Very well. The Prosecution would like to call the defendant to the stand and ask that the man in the mask is brought down as well.
The defense pushes his client towards the witness testimony booth and the jury box is open letting The Masked Gentleman make his way out to the courtroom. The Gent paces back and forth hands behind his back as the defendant, unsure himself about the situation simply decides to go along with it.
The Gent: So, Meadow, was it?
The defendant gives a nod, giving a smile.
Meadow: Yep. Jacob Meadow. I uh... I sort of got caught jaywalking. So, what exactly is your connection the case?
The Gent holds out his gloved palm as a 'stop' to the defendant.
The Gent: My apologies, but I wish to be the one who asks questions around here. Now then, you are probably asking what my connection to this case is, is it not?
The Gent puts his hand down as Meadows goes back to confusion.
Meadow: Uh, yeah.
The Gent places one of his hand on the table, raising the other in the hair with one finger raised.
The Gent: THEN I SHALL TELL YOU, I AM WZCW WRESTLER- THE MASKED GENTLEMAN!
Meadow's face changes from confusion to a somewhat disappointed look
Meadow: Uh sorry to burst your bubble, dude. I remember seeing your name on the door with all those names on it, but I'm actually not into wrestling, I was just going to see if I could sell their autographs for a pretty good price.
The Gent: WHY JACOB, MY BUBBLE IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF BEING BURST. IT'S STAYING AFLOAT. Either way, you might remember, did anyone exit or enter that door if you noticed it?
The defendant tries to think of anyone who might have went into his room
Meadow: ...See, it's weird, but I only remember your room because it had a camera by it. Maybe you could check that?
The Gent: OF COURSE! Why didn't I think of it sooner?
Meadow: I dunno, maybe you were distracted.
The Gent: I was, bu--
Suddenly The Gent's eyes flash up as he comes to a hypothesis.
The Gent: There was no proof, I would have came out at Redemption, after all, I was not SPECIFICALLY booked for the card; HOWEVER, I did let them know about my intentions to challenge Rush. Only a few good men...strike that from the record, whoever's recording. I mean not for a joke, when this is quite a serious issue.
Prosecutor: THIS IS BEING RECORDED?
The Gent: ... Now who could have known this? It would be the men who saw me enter the arena and took their spot, the interviewer...and the man who called out my name before the Pay-Per-View came, Rush. However, Rush may be the brawn, but he lacks the brains to do this. That is not to saying he is not smart, but he would not mind if people knew he tore up my locker room. No, that simply leaves one man who would do this, a man who's just like EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IN THIS COURT ROOM.
The Gent pauses a moment, clearing his throat before continuing.
The Gent: Sorry. What I meant was that he is just like THE DEFENSE AND THE PROSECUTION. He, like they are, was an attorney. An attorney like him could improvise and form a strategy, especially if he was given time. It's not like this is out of character for him, is it? This is a man who's been nothing but a trouble maker, as slimy as a slug and a complete weasel since his return to WZCW. The man simply lacks manners, but he shall make you believe he has them.
Just about fed up with The Gent, the prosecution stands up from his table
Prosecutor: OBJECTION. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS?
The Gent: OVERRULED!.
Prosecutor: WHAT? YOU'RE NOT THE JUDGE.
The Gent: I SEE. UNDERRULED!
Prosecutor: THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. JUST, WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS?
The Gent: I AM GLAD YOU ASKED! You see, I've had my issues with Sam Smith since Redemption. Since Redemption, the man has cost me my chance at winning the Eurasian title, which was my chance to finally redeem myself after the debacle that was my run on Ascension, where I was given multiple shots at glory and failed every single one of them. Come Redemption, I had it, I had nearly made up for every pin I've taken, every single time I have failed the men who put me in my spot as well as the audience who had been so gracious to accept me, despite my past and cheer me on against these people. The more I think about it...
The Gent takes off his suit coat and hat, casually throwing them to the floor.
The Gent: The more I think about it, my fancy clothes mean nothing. What do I have to truly celebrate about, when I've still not gotten a chance at redeeming everything? What do I have to show for it? I've gotten a DQ Victory over Sam Smith, but when you are carried off by the medics while he simply parties, who's the one who truly lost their match? My victory against Smith meant nothing if he still sees no fault in his actions and I still have not made up for my failures since I came to WZCW, or even my failures in the past as a thief. At Redemption, I had lost my opportunity at Redemption...but at Apocalypse? I've been given one more shot.
The Gent takes a deep breath as he takes off his gloves, throwing them down to the ground, continually staring at the pieces of his suit he tears off as he continues.
The Gent: Who knows? In a way, this might actually be my last shot. I know that chances do not come forever and eventually it's going to click in that a man like me who's failed all of his chances to make his name known doesn't deserve another chance. Its a miracle I've managed to get this shot here. I've made so many mistakes and since I moved on from Aftershock, until my DQ victory against Sam Smith, at the most I got was an 'almost victory'. I ALMOST beat Constantine on my Ascension debut. I ALMOST had a shot at winning the X-Division Title, which the winner of that went on to WIN the X-Division title. I ALMOST got a victory over the man who at Redemption won the WZCW World Title. But, I do not want to be an ALMOST. I am not the ALMOST Masked Gentleman. I never gained popularity in France for ALMOST stealing priceless artifacts.
The Gent raises his head up, to take a good look at everyone around the court room.
The Gent: This courtroom reminds me of the one I was sentenced in, in fact. Just like then, I was disgusted at myself for failing my heist, and now come all these years later I find myself in a similar predicament.
The Gent takes a deep breath in order to calm himself down.
The Gent: Now combine my disgust with the fact the man I am facing is the most likely suspect for some plan he had with this...
The Gent fishes from the suit jacket pocket he threw on the ground his cell phone.
The Gent: Something that I had been foolish enough to focus on more than him, and it comes to me that maybe...maybe this was his plan all along. Why do a harmless thing like this? Because he knows he could mess with me, because if there is an unsolvable case, I had certainly be the one to try solving it, especially if it was something personal, like my belongings. So...
The Gent picks up his hat, brushing off any dirt from the floor before placing it on his head, tucking the suit coat under his shoulder and placing the gloves into his pockets.
The Gent: ...maybe it's time I've focused on Smith for now. Then after I finally beat him, I can talk to him, and see if he is my man or not. I will be seated again. No further questions for the defendant, your honor.
The Masked Gentleman walks his way back to the jury box, the judge, sits almost speechless towards what just happened, turns to the prosecution.
Judge: ...Recess?
Prosecutor: You know what, let's just adjourn for today.
The Judge, without thinking, bangs her gavel.
Judge: ...Done.
